LYTTELTON BY-ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22629, 22 July 1935, Page 10

LYTTELTON BY-ELECTION

Polling Day, July 24 CANDIDATES T. H. M'Combs, Labour. M. E. Lyons, Coalition. E. T. Hills, Independent Labour. G. S. Hamilton, Independent. 1925—J. M'Combs (Labour), 4900; M.E. Lyons (Reform), 4889. 1928—J. M'Combs (Labour), 5022; J. W. Beanland (Reform), 3066; W. T. Lester (United), 2734. 1931—J. M'Combs (Labour)., 5404; F W. Freeman (Coalition), 5372; W. L. Page (Independent), 83. 1933 (by-election)—Mrs E. R. M'Combs (Labour), 6344; F. W. Freeman (Coalition), 3675; E. L. Hills (Independent Labour), 269.

AN ORDERLY CAMPAIGN LABOUR'S CHANCES FAVOURED (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, July 21. There are as few indications now as there were in the first days of the campaign of the probable result of the Lyttelton by-election. The campaign has been a decorous and orderly one, at least, and some observers have suspected that this may be evidence of apathy. There is lacking the usual evidence of the Labour people's enthusiasm for their candidate, but it would be rash to predict that next Wednesday Mr M'Combs will not poll the Labour vote. Mr Lyons has proved himself by far the most competent candidate in the field. In fact, he has done extremely well. His speeches have, not been mere repetitions of the same prepared story. For instance, he has commented shrewdly on the conversion loan and the meat agreement, commending the Government on both achievements. He has also criticised very effectively Labour's guaranteed prices plan for primary produce. Mr M'Combs has only one speech, which he has repeated many times, varying only his vehemence. He has had one small score on the subject of the conversion loan. He had no useful comment to make on it until, wise after the event, he belittled the flotation by pointing to the fact that the stock was soon at a premium after the conversion was completed, and so arguing that the Government had sold too cheaply and had made a large present to the bond-holders. It is a double-edged argument, because the high price of the stock is actually a high compliment to the Government he is opposing. With fine weather on polling day, Mr Lyons may do as well as his supporters hope, but most observers who are at all impartial believe that Labour should hold the seat, though with a reduced majority. _ , Mr E. L. Hills, the Independent Labour candidate, has been campaigning assiduously, but has been unable to cover the electorate! thoroughly. He may damage the Labour candidate a little, but is just as likely to take votes that might otherwise have gone to Mr Lyons. His vote will be small in any case. Mr G. S. Hamilton, the Independent candidate, has made the amusing suggestion that Mr Lyons should withdraw from the contest in his favour.